Method and apparatus for interactive television through use of menu windows

ABSTRACT

An electronic device and method for accessing remote electronic facilities and displaying associated information on a conventional television set. The electronic device self-configures itself upon power-up or reset by initiating a data call to a configuring facility. Information related to available facilities and programming, autonomous mail checking is downloaded to the electronic device. The electronic device displays a menu including several user selectable facilities on the display for a user. The user chooses one of the options from the menu by use of a remote keypad control, similar to a conventional television remote control. The options available include printing, electronic mail and other news and information services. Interfacing the electronic device with a stylus-type pointing device permits sketching and drawing on the television, including superposition of images on captured television images. Captured images of graphics or text are optionally stored or forwarded to a user through a mail facility accessed through operation of the system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 7/770,520, filed 3 Oct. 1991, titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FORELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR VIDEOTEXT NETWORK and a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/952,435, filed herewith on 28 Sep.1992, titled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TELEVISION-TO-TELEVISIONCOMMUNICATION, both hereby expressly incorporated by reference for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to interactive television. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to an electronic device formonitoring specific television activity. (e.g. program or commercialviewing) and communicating monitored activity to a facility andinitiating appropriate actions dependent upon the specific televisionactivity detected. Television activities also include advertisements,presentations, contribution solicitations, and home purchasing shows,for example.

It is known in the art to survey television program viewing habits oftelevision audiences. These surveys are especially important forcommercial television broadcasting because advertising and programmingdecisions are based on television show popularity. Many different typesof surveys are available, but one of the most accurate types is in-homemonitoring. An in-home monitoring survey relates to those surveys takenwhen a rating company provides a household with special hardwareequipment that automatically records and logs television activity. Thissurveying method has a number of problems. One problem relates to anexpense associated with the specialized hardware along with itsattendant consequence that the hardware cost limits a size of the surveysample. Another problem is that there is an error introduced into thesurveying method due to the household's awareness of the survey,reflected by the presence of the special hardware. It would be desirableto have a cost effective system able to monitor accurately andcost-efficiently the viewing habits of a wide range of households.

In television broadcasting, it is also desirable to interact with theviewer. There are many commercials and programs which request vieweraction such as purchasing an advertised product, making a monetarycontribution, responding to a survey, answering a question, orparticipating in contests with other viewers, for example. Also,companies sponsoring these commercials or programs would sometimes liketo their provide their viewers with further information, if the viewerscould be identified or if the viewer requests the information. It isdifficult to separate the actual viewers from the entire televisionviewing audience. Identification permits the producer of the show to usecost-effective, targeted advertising, rather than other options, such asthe more expensive general mailings. An additional problem is that it isdifficult to motivate a viewer to request information, to send in acontribution, or to specifically respond as desired. It is desirable toprovide a ready and efficient method and apparatus to facilitate anexchange of information between television viewers and producers,promoters and advertisers associated with television programming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus and method for simply,efficiently and economically providing facility access to any user,providing any user with an ability to interact with television or cableprogramming, and providing automatic monitoring of each user's viewinghabits allowing construction of a viewing profile. The invention permitsaccess and use of the tremendous information and services available inelectronic form without knowledge of computer components orconfiguration requirements, interactive use of the televisionprogramming, and cost-effective programming monitoring. Access toinformation and use of the various electronic services, as well as thetelevision interaction activities, is possible by use of a conventionalnumeric remote keypad for selecting particular menu items from menusdisplayed on conventional television sets.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it includes atelevision set, a communications device connected to a communicationsnetwork, such as a telephone system, a remote keypad and a controller.The controller displays menu items on a portion of a screen of thetelevision and controls operation of the communications device. The menuitems correspond to various services provided to a user. Numbers, 0-9,identify the individual menu items that are selectable from the remotekeypad. Some services are better implemented with alphabeticalcharacters. In those instances, the remote keypad is provided withalpha-numeric characters. The controller includes a tuner coupled to thetelevision and to an LED readout identifying a selected channel viewedby the user, and a "genlock" apparatus. The preferred embodiment employsthe well-known genlock principle in a novel way to facilitateinteractiveness with television programming as well as to provideeconomic telestration capabilities to the home user.

In operation, the controller initiates an automated configuration modeupon initial power-up. The automated configuration includes initiationof a data call to a predetermined independent computer system to acquireconfiguration information and operating instructions. The configurationinformation includes data identifying particular services desired by theparticular user. The configuration information controls which menuchoices the user may select. Through use of the remote keypad, the useris able to tune the television to a desired broadcast or cable stationbecause of the built-in tuner. The controller monitors televisionchannel selection information and time/date stamps the station selectioninformation, and thereby indirectly, all programs the user watches. Thecontroller assembles all the monitored television information into auser profile. Periodically, the controller uploads the user profileinformation to an appropriate facility through by use of thetelecommunications medium.

Further, the genlock mechanism permits the controller to overlay acontrol menu or an interaction menu over all or a portion of atelevision screen, as desired. The preferred embodiment adds theinteraction menu to a bottom portion of the screen and preempts oroverlays the incoming programming in that portion of the screendisplaying the interaction menu. Selecting various interaction optionsfrom the interaction menu with the remote keypad initiates variousevents, depending upon a chosen option. The incorporation of a creditcard swipe, or alpha-numeric entry through the remote keypad, allowsinteractions involving payments of money or purchases of goods andservices. Additionally, the electronic device may include menus or otherinformational graphics designed to activate upon a user selecting aparticular channel at a particular time.

The genlock implemented with the preferred embodiment provides each userwith a simple telestration apparatus. An option from one menu providesthe user with the ability to overlay images produced from the pointingdevice and a background of the user's choice. The choices include, amongothers, a blank background, a predefined background image, or an imagecaptured from the television program, static or live. This feature hasapplications in many fields, including for example education and sports.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a built-inmessaging system for the user. The system permits exchange of messagesto and from other electronic device users, computer users or variousfacilities. In this embodiment, the operating instructions of eachelectronic device directs the device to autonomously initiate amessaging call to a messaging facility at predetermined times when theuser is not using the telephone line. The controller posts anyuntransmitted messages or user profiles at this time, and receivesmessages and any new configuration or operating instructions. If thecontroller receives new messages for the user, it lights a messageindicator. This tells the user that new messages are waiting, promptingthe user to initiate appropriate actions to access them.

When the user activates the electronic device, the controller displaysthe selection menu which includes those options available to the user.One available menu item permits the user to read the messages. Theremote keypad controls the operation of the various features of theelectronic device, such as message scrolling, rereading, saving ordeleting particular messages, for example.

When the user desires to access the information and services, the userselects one of the menu items by operating the remote keypad. Selectionsignals from the remote keypad identify a particular menu item. Thecontroller responds to the selection signals by identifying the desiredservice associated with the input from the remote keypad. The controlleroperates the communications device to access the telephone line.Accessing the telephone line permits connection to an independentcomputer system providing the desired service. The controller promptsthe independent computer system to provide the desired information orservice. The controller displays the desired information or service onthe television, and waits for additional input from the remote keypad.Use of a printer connected to the controller provides the user with anability to produce a hardcopy of the information displayed on thetelevision.

Another aspect of the invention includes use of a stylus or pen-typepointing device as an input device, although other types are possible,such as a "joystick" for example, for creation of particular images onthe television screen. A user controls a drawing cursor's position onthe television display by moving the pointing device. After creating adesired image, the controller, responsive to selection signals from theremote keypad, prints images created with the pointing device, orcaptures the image and transmits it to an independent computer system.The independent computer system, depending upon particular menu optionsselected, directs the captured transmitted image to another user or tostorage for later access. It is possible to capture television imagestransmitted from the television station and superimpose user-createdgraphics as mentioned above for the telestration capability.

Some pen-type pointing devices include a click button for indicatingparticular user actions when operated. One feature of an embodimentincluding this type of pointing device includes an ability to simulatekeyboard input. The controller displays keyboard image on thetelevision. The user subsequently identifies each desired key byclicking within the keyboard image at positions corresponding to desiredkey. Serially positioning the cursor and selecting particular key imagespermits simulation of typing. The controller is able to capture andtransmit these typewritten-document images just as any other image.

Still another aspect of the present invention includes an integralcredit card reader with the controller. This permits the user toconveniently purchase goods or services by use of the electronic device.A memory optionally stores the credit card information, facilitatingpurchases. In response to a purchase command, the system is able tosimply request if the user desires use of the stored information ratherthan the user finding and "swiping" the credit card again.

The invention provides simple, efficient access to facilities withoutacquisition or configuration of computer components. Users select adesired service from among several services displayed in menu byoperation of a remote keypad. Autonomous self-configuration of theelectronic device allows a system operator to enhance services oroperation quickly and ensure that all users have their chosen servicesavailable to them.

Reference to the remaining portions of the specification and thedrawings realize a further understanding of the nature and advantages ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a videotext system 10 including anelectronic device interface 20 having a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of the electronic device 20;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of one possible configuration ofthe system 10;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of one television display for electronicdevice 20 in operation; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration a preferred embodiment of the remote keypad22.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a videotext system 10 including anelectronic device interface 20 having a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. The videotext system 10 includes an independentcomputer system (host computer) 30 providing one or more facilities auser desires to access. The host computer 30 connects to the electronicdevice 20 through a communications medium 32. Examples of thecommunications medium includes public-switched telephone networks andclosed-circuit coaxial cables. The host computer 30 provides access tomany facilities, including other electronic devices 34, networks 36,personal computers 38, databases 40, facsimile or telex services 42, andinteractor facilities 46, for example. Interactor facilities are thosefacilities targeted for interaction with the user. They can be speciallydesigned services or programming, or conventional programming whichdesire to interact with television/cable viewers.

The electronic device 20 interfaces these facilities for access anddisplay on a conventional television display 50. The user selects andcontrols access to the facilities displayed on the television 50 by useof a remote keypad control 52. The remote keypad control 52 of thepreferred embodiment is similar to conventional television remotecontrols for selection of channel and volume, for instance. The remotekeypad control 52 provides menu selection signals to the electronicdevice for selection of a particular facility of the host computer 30.The general applicability and provision of this system, including use ofmenus, is described in the incorporated parent patent application. Thepresent invention adds additional functionality to the electronic devicepreviously disclosed.

The electronic device 20 of the preferred embodiment includes astylus-type or pen-type pointing device 54 for creation of bitmap imageson the television 50. The bitmap images include graphical and textualinformation drawn by the user. The user is able to direct the electronicdevice 20 to capture images from the television 50 screen. The imagesinclude any bitmap images created by the user. The electronic device 20is able to transmit these captured images to the host computer 30 forstorage or forwarding to any of the facilities the host computer 30controls.

Applications of this embodiment of the present invention include use ofthe pointing device 54 to superimpose user created images over capturedtelevision station transmissions or educational and recreationalsketching and drawing. Additionally, the pointing device 54 is able tofunction as a text input device by interaction with an image of aconventional typewriter keyboard. Through display of the keyboard imageon the television, and monitoring cursor positions associated with"clicks" of the pointing device 54, a user may "typewrite" informationon the screen.

The electronic device 20 includes an interface for a printer 56. Theelectronic device 20 directs selected, captured images to the printer 56for hardcopy output. The printer 56 prints results of queries to thevarious selected facilities, the sketching with the pointing device 54,or any other screen displayed.

Shown in FIG. 1 is an integral credit card reader 60. This credit cardreader 60 provides a ready and simple mechanism for each user to accesspremium facilities having a surcharge, or for purchase of itemsdisplayed by particular facilities.

The present invention incorporates a tuner, a "genlock" mechanism, and atime/date clock. These features allow the electronic device 20 toprovide for windowed display 80 of the menus (overlaying the interactionmenus on a portion of a conventional television broadcast, for example)and construction of a viewing profile, among other things.

In operation, the user activates the electronic device 20 and uses theremote keypad control 52 to tune the television 50 by use of theelectronic device. A readout 85 on the electronic device 20 indicatesthe tuned station. The electronic device 20 records and stores the timeand dates of operation and viewed frequency for periodic uploading tothe host computer or to an appropriate facility. When the user selects aparticular show matching a predefined criteria, a special menu orinformational graphic is optionally displayed. Or, for certain programs,such as home shopping programming, the user may manually overlay apurchasing menu in the window 80. When a desired item is shown, the useris able to cause the electronic device 20 to issue appropriate purchaseinformation to the interactor facility, automatically. Similarly, forother programming, such as advertisements, the user can requestinformation regarding a product. For advertisements which are notspecially designed, or which are not prearranged with the host computer,the request can be logged by station and time. Knowing the electronicdevice's ID, and other user information, the system 10 can record therequest and still initiate a request for the specific information byaccessing a history of the programming for the logged station, at theparticular date and time. This system is applicable to polling events,where an user can automatically choose a menu item for a particularvote, or for making monetary contributions.

FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of the electronic device 20. Theelectronic device 20 is a microcontroller-controlled electronicappliance including a central-processing unit (CPU) 100 coupled to aclock 101, a memory 102, an address decoder 104, a peripheral interface106, a video controller 108, and a modulator/demodulator (modem) 110 bya data and address bus. The memory 102 includes both random read/writememory (RAM) and read-only memory. A power supply 120 generates powerfor the components of the electronic device 20 (V⁺), as well as to keepa battery-backup 122 charged. The battery-backup 122 provides power forthe RAM when the power-supply 120 is not connected to a power source124. Additionally, the electronic device 20 includes a credit cardreader 130, an infrared detector 132, a speakerphone controller 134, atelevision receiver circuit 136, and a television modulator 138, allcoupled to the peripheral interface 106.

The CPU 100 controls operation of the electronic device 20 according toinstructions stored in the ROM and the RAM of the memory 102. The ROMincludes an initialization sequence which the CPU 100 executes uponevery reset or power-up. The initialization sequence includes a set ofcommands causing the electronic device 20 connect to a particularfacility 30 and self-configure itself. The self-configuration includesreceipt of particularized instructions for the particular electronicdevice 20, depending upon an identification code stored in the ROM. TheCPU 100 stores these particularized instructions in the RAM.

The CPU 100 addresses the components of the electronic device 20 throughthe address decoder 104. The address decoder receives addresses from theCPU 100 and asserts a select signal to an identified component inresponse to a particular address. Components with an asserted selectsignal from the address decoder 104 interact with the CPU 100, eitherreceiving instructions or providing data.

The peripheral interface 106 includes a parallel input/output port aswell-known for interfacing to a printer 56, to the credit card reader130, and to the IR detector 132. The peripheral interface 106 includes aserial interface for the pointing device 54. The parallel interface andthe serial interface are separately selectable by the address decoder104.

The television interface includes a video controller 108 for text andgraphics, connected to a video memory and the video modulator 138 toproduce television-compatible output. The television interface connectsto a conventional television 38 for display of menus identifying thevarious facilities available to a user, and for displaying theinformation provided from a selected facility, as well as to enablescreen-to-screen communication. The genlock mechanism is incorporatedinto the video controller 108. The modem 110 includes amodulator/demodulator used for data calls, to convert digital data to aformat compatible with the communications medium, such as a conventionaltelephone system. Additionally, the modem 110 includes a communicationsinterface 140 to actually send and receive signals relative to thecommunications medium. The speakerphone controller 134 interfacesdirectly to the modem interface 140 to implement the speakerphoneoperation.

The modem 110, through its modem interface 140 particularized for thecommunications medium used by the electronic device 20, communicatesover the communications medium 50 to another electronic device 20. Themodem 110 and the interface 140 permits the electronic devices 20 toexchange voice and data information. The CPU 100, under control of aprogram in the memory 102, controls the operational mode (voice ordata).

The credit card reader 130, a conventional device, reads magneticallyencoded information on credit and debit cards. The credit card reader130 provides output information to the CPU 100 through the parallelinput/output function of the peripheral interface 106.

The IR detector 132 receives menu selection signals from the keypadremote control 52. The IR detector 132 provides the CPU 100, through theperipheral interface 106, with particular key information selected.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of one configuration of the electronic device20 including display of selected menu items. The electronic device 20provides the user with a menu of available services, displayed withinthe window 80. The size, orientation, and location of the window 80 canbe changed, depending upon user preference or application. The menu inFIG. 3 includes several options which the user selects by use of theremote keypad control 52. The remote keypad control 52 does not employ atypewriter-type keyboard to implement the selected functions. Bydisplaying a menu having numbered entries and selecting a correspondingnumber for a desired entry by use of the remote keypad control 52, theuser accesses the desired facility. The electronic device 20 includes amail indicator 140 which illuminates when new unread mail is availablefor the user.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of one television display for electronicdevice 20 in operation. The FIG. 4 illustration shows one implementationof an interface to a home shopping service. The regular broadcastappears in the television display 82, with an overlying menu window 80.This "ED-BAND" window permits a user, through activation of anappropriate control on the keypad remote 52, or by activation of theinput device 30, to purchase the displayed product. The system is ableto use prestored credit information to automatically initiate thepurchase, or to use other purchase information, such as from anothercard passed through the credit card reader 60.

This is only a representative application of the present system. Otherfeatures are possible, such as telestration capabilities. In thetelestration mode, a user could capture a screen image, and use thepointing device to edit or enhance an image captured from the televisionbroadcast. Additionally, the telestration feature could be implementedin the window 80, while television broadcasting was received anddisplayed on the display 82. Two users could thus interact with eachother and comment on particular programming, for example, by exchanginginformation in their telestration windows while they view a televisionbroadcast.

FIG. 5 is a a preferred embodiment of the remote keypad 22. FIG. 5illustrates the use of an alpha-numeric array of keys to effectively andefficiently control the two-way communication of audio/visualinformation.

In conclusion, the present invention provides a simple, efficientsolution to a problem of accessing and using the many electronicfacilities presently available. Complex and time-consuming acquisitionand configuration as well as training in use of the computer componentsbecomes unnecessary with the present device. While the above is acomplete description of the preferred embodiments of the invention,various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents may be used. Forexample, the interraction, telestration, polling, contribution, andprofiling features described above may be customized and adapted to awide range of uses and applications. Therefore, the above descriptionshould not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention which isdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for interfacing a television to aselected one of a plurality of electronic facilities, said methodcomprising the steps of:calling, upon application of power to anelectronic device coupled to the television, a host computer from saidelectronic device through a modem coupled to a telephone network andcoupled to said electronic device, to establish a first datacommunication link between said electronic device and said host computervia said telephone network and said modem; transferring configurationdata from said host computer to said electronic device via said firstdata communication link; thereafter breaking said first datacommunication link; assembling from said configuration data a menulisting a plurality of titles identifying said plurality of electronicfacilities; thereafter overlaying said menu over a background image on ascreen of the television; accepting, at a remote keyboard, an operatorinput specifying said selected one of said plurality of facilities;transmitting, from said remote keyboard to an IR detector coupled tosaid electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operatorinput; detecting said infrared signal at said IR detector; thereaftercalling said host computer from said electronic device via said modemand said telephone network, thereby establishing a second datacommunication link between said host computer and said electronic devicevia said modem and said telephone network; and thereafter connectingsaid electronic device to said selected one facility via said seconddata communication link and said host computer.